Weather forecast: Unsettled conditions persist
This morning will be cloudy and misty with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, moderate or heavy at times, but it will turn drier and brighter as the day goes on with sunny spells developing during the afternoon and evening.
Highest temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees with light west to northwest breezes.
The latest weather forecast from Met Éireann says tonight will be mostly dry and cloudy, with just a few isolated showers.
Lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees with light westerly or variable breezes.
The national weather forecaster says tomorrow (Friday) will start off dry with some sunny spells during the morning, but rain will develop in western areas during the afternoon.
This rain will spread eastwards to all areas by evening and some heavy bursts will be possible. Highest temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees with moderate to fresh southerly winds.
It looks like the unsettled and changeable weather pattern is set to continue. Temperatures are near normal at first, but turning fresher and cooler at the weekend and into early next week.
Friday night: Rain will continue in the northeast and east early on Friday night, with some heavy bursts possible, but will clear away to the east overnight. Somewhat drier elsewhere, but scattered showers in Atlantic counties will move eastwards through the night. Mild and humid with lowest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees. Moderate southerly winds will gradually veer westerly overnight.
Looking ahead to the weekend and Saturday morning is looking dry with sunny spells, but during the afternoon and evening there will be widespread showers. Some showers will be heavy and there is the potential for some thundery downpours too.
The showers will gradually die out through the evening, leaving sunny spells in most places. Highest temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees in the west and north, but reaching 19 to 21 degrees in the south and east. Westerly winds will be light to moderate.
Saturday night: Cloud will increase in the west and north on Saturday night, bringing outbreaks of rain which will merge into longer spells in the northwest. Dry with clear spells elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees with light to moderate west to southwest winds.
On Sunday there will be sunny spells and scattered showers. It will be cloudier in the far northwest though, with more persistent rain moving in from the Atlantic during the evening. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees with moderate to fresh westerly winds, strong along the northwest coast.
Sunday night: Most of the country will be dry with long clear spells on Sunday night, however, rain will likely linger in the far northwest for a time. Towards morning, cloud will thicken in the southwest. Cooler than previous nights with temperatures falling to between 8 and 10 degrees.
The outlook for Monday: Widespread rain is expected to affect the southwest on Monday morning, spreading to most parts of the country through the day and becoming heavy at times. There will be light to moderate southerly winds and afternoon temperatures will range 16 to 18 degrees.
Further outlook: The last week of July is looking unsettled and changeable with further rain or showers moving through from the Atlantic, but some drier and brighter periods too.
Blight Warning
Potato farmers and home gardeners are being warded that current weather conditions are conducive to the spread of Potato Blight are developing in the west and northwest and will affect all areas at times through the rest of this week.